Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for September 2–8, 2021

Join a Virtual Bon Dance (while eating Okinawan Muuchi)

The Okinawan Festival is virtual again this year, so you can stream taiko drum performances, dancing, songs and even an andagi demonstration on YouTube or Facebook. But, of course, the big group activity that you can do at home this year is the Bon Dance, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday night. Even if you don’t tune in for the entertainment, kids of all ages can get a taste of the lesser-known Okinawan cuisine, which has marked differences from other Japanese dishes, by preordering or picking up everything from sparerib soup and fishcake to andagi ice cream. If you’re headed to the Kaka‘ako Farmers Market, make sure to stop by Izu’s Mochi to try Okinawan muuchi, which is similar but steamed in a ginger leaf. Izu’s special just for the Okinawan Festival is first come, first serve.

• All ages
• Free
• The festival is Saturday, Sept. 4 and Sunday, Sept. 5. Okinawan Feastival specials run at various times from Sept. 1 through 14.
• okinawanfestival.com

Eating by the glow of Christmas decorations, scented candles and battery-powered lanterns. Photo: Christi Young

Throw a Hurricane Party

Preparing for a storm can be surprisingly fun when it involves a night in the dark eating a dinner you probably never would have let the kids have on a regular evening. We started throwing our hurricane party last year and had so much fun, and felt so prepared, that we’ve turned it into an annual event. With the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Ida on the mainland, it’s a good way to get all your emergency supplies in order. Here is how we did it. And, since it’s a long weekend, why not end the night by sleeping in a fort in the living room?

Take Autumn Photos

I don’t know about you, but when we started spending so much time at home, the seasons became an even bigger deal for us. Instead of just going all out for Christmas, marking the start of autumn is a great way to celebrate the start of a new season. Keiki and the Pineapple has created a fall backdrop for 15-minute mini photoshoots that started this week. Book your appointment for this weekend or some other time later in the month before slots fill up.

• All ages
• $36.65 for 15 minutes
• Various times throughout September
• Keiki and the Pineapple, 909 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Ste. B
• keikiandthepineapple.com

SEE ALSO: 🍍 Family Restaurant Review: Keiki & the Pineapple

Photo: Stacey Makiya

Grab a Racquet

If you’ve been looking for a new way to get the kids active (and were wondering why so many people were running around on short courts) here is the downlow on Pickleball. HONOLULU’s stylist (and mom!) Stacey Makiya has a guide for beginners.

SEE ALSO: 🥕 Hawai‘i Farmers Market Adventures: Carrot-Top Pesto

Photo: Unsplash

Register: Keiki and Me Knife Skills

Keiki and Plow is not offering open play right now (although, you can gather a few of your child’s besties for a private 10-person playgroup). But Heather Mohr’s family farm is hosting an outdoor class using fresh-picked produce. Older kids and parents will harvest a few items that the chef will show you how to cut, safely, and prep for salads, pickles or anything else. There are only seven slots available. Bring large resealable containers or bags to take your vegetables home. If you finish up early, keiki and play until 11 a.m.

• Kids 10 years older. They will work one-on-one with a parent or guardian
• $75 for two
• Sunday, Sept. 12, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Keiki and Plow, 587 Pakala St.
• keikiandplow.com, @keikiandplow

Photo: Enjy El-Kadi

Register Now: Twilight Tours at the Honolulu Zoo

Since these after-hour tours reopened, they have filled up quickly and, for a few months, you couldnt even book weeks in advance. The zoo now has spots open from October on so you should reserve your space now. Last time we checked, the first few Saturdays in October only had space for a single person, but Oct. 30 still allowed us to book more than kamaʻāina rate, which is a $5 discount. Register at honoluluzoo.org.

We tried it! See our tips for the Twilight Tours.